(1581-1654) The “Slave of the Slaves” was the son of a Spanish farmer, joined the Jesuits at age 20, and became a missionary priest. In 1610, Peter arrived in present-day Columbia and made it his life’s mission to minister physically and spiritually to African slaves, becoming a voice for moral justice to their European masters. In 40 years, it is estimated that he baptised over 300,000 and annually heard confessions of over 5,000 people.
Peter was like the good angel in Saint Ignatius’ first rule of Discernment of Spirits to those in serious sin, always “stinging and biting their consciences through their rational power of moral judgment” (Saint Ignatius, Spiritual Exercises). In recovery, we admit our powerlessness and unmanageability (Step 1). We strive to “improve our conscious contact with God” and pray “for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out” (Step 11).
“Man’s salvation and perfection consist in doing the will of God, which he must have in view in all things and at every moment of his life: The more he accomplishes this divine will, the more perfect he will be” (Saint Peter Claver).
Reflection by Brad Farmer